Agent acknowledged: Distinguished social figures lauded for their respective contributions
Honoring New York's Social Services Champions: Recognizing Leaders Who Make a Difference
New York City and State's social services sector received a well-deserved celebration as the 2nd annual "Above & Beyond Social Services: Recognizing New York's Leaders in the Social Services Sector" awards ceremony took place at the 3 West Club in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday.
The event, associated with City & State's "Above & Beyond: Social Services" power list, honored distinguished leaders and organizations whose work has significantly impacted New York's social services landscape. These recipients come from diverse backgrounds, including government leadership, nonprofit management, and legal advocacy.
Keynote speeches were delivered by New York State Office of Children & Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden and New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. DaMia Harris-Madden highlighted the shared calling among the honorees to serve others with open hearts, while Wasow Park acknowledged the turbulent times for the social services field.
Harris-Madden shared a quote from the late Rep. Shirley Chisholm during her remarks: "Service is the rent you pay for the privilege of living on this earth." This sentiment resonated with the honorees, who are dedicated to improving New York's safety and quality of life.
Some key recipients include leaders who have demonstrated exceptional character and championed innovative practices across social services, public officials like DaMia Harris-Madden and Wasow Park, and nonprofit leaders and program directors whose organizations provide essential services, such as housing programs. One example highlighted in coverage is a leader responsible for two HUD-funded HousingPlus programs achieving top evaluations in NYC.
The law firm Cahill was honored with the 2025 Above & Beyond Pro Bono Achievement Award by Sanctuary For Families for their sustained legal advocacy protecting vulnerable children and families in complex custody and Hague Convention cases.
The awards ceremony left the honorees feeling even more inspired and empowered to continue uplifting their communities and clients. Wasow Park expressed faith in the honorees, their organizations, and their teams to do the hard work together. She also emphasized the importance of finding strength and comfort in the fact that she is not alone in struggling with challenges like federal budget cuts and the growing feeling that people lack empathy for others.
Wasow Park called on the honorees to find opportunity during hard times to create an even more equitable system for the future. The event was emceed by Phenix Kim, and the honorees left the event feeling reinvigorated, ready to continue their vital work in New York's social services sector.
- In light of their shared dedication to improve New York's safety and quality of life, it's worth exploring how science, health-and-wellness, and mental-health initiatives could be integrated into their ongoing efforts.
- The honorees, who have demonstrated exceptional character and championed innovative practices across social services, could also collaborate with experts in science, health-and-wellness, and mental-health to develop comprehensive and holistic programs that address the physical and mental well-being of the communities they serve.
